GSI Outdoors Blog

We’re far from the first people to muse about summer’s magical qualities -- the days stretch on into the evening, the warmer temps give way to exposed skin, the beer flows like wine, and the water is oh so inviting. And if there’s one thing we love about summer, it’s playing on the water! Its hypnotic essence invites adventure and discovery.

Blend Out

If you’ve learned anything from this blog over the last few months, it’s probably that we LOVE partying while we’re out playing in the wild. The easiest way to spice up a leisurely paddle across a lake or loosen up for a competitive game of backwoods bocce ball is to add in an adult beverage. One thing we’ve noticed is that most people stick to basic cans of beer or, once in a while, a mixed cocktail. Those are all fine and dandy for an easy go-to, but if you really want to elevate your wilderness mixology, you need to step it up. Enter the Vortex Blender.

Camp Cocktail Macgyver

The sun starts to dip in the western sky and your shadows start to grow noticeably longer. It feels like you’ve been walking all day. You’ve got a 50-pound pack on your back that you’ve lugged 8 miles and 2,500 vertical feet before finally reaching your alpine lake campsite. You set down your pack, untie your boots, take a seat on the bank of the lake and dip your feet in the icy waters. The only thing that could make this moment better is a frosty, adult beverage.

Camp Site Hero

You’ve just spent 45 minutes building a fire, wrapping potatoes in tinfoil, filling that Dutch oven with beautiful, finely chopped veggies and getting everything cooking. The hard part is done. Now, the wait. Instead of just sitting there and drooling while you watch your food cook, give those legs a stretch and bust out a classic camp spot time killer -- yard games!

A Crash Course in Dutch Ovens

If you've never messed around with a dutch oven before, they can be a bit of a mystery. But once you start cooking with one, you'll never want to go into the woods without one again. Here's a quick crash course so you can level up your outdoor cooking game. Prepare to have your socks rocked off.

How to Party Like a Pro with Dogs This Summer

Everyone loves partying, BBQs and dogs. It’s only natural that eventually these worlds will collide and you’ll be partying on a hot summer day with your furry, four-legged friend. We’re smack dab in the middle of prime BBQ-ing season, so we thought we’d put together a few tips to ensure that your dog is dog-gone* happy while hanging around the grill this summer.

Ode to the Parking Lot Beer

I’m only two miles into an 8 mile pedal up the mountain and already I’m dragging. I’ve done this climb dozens of times before, but today my legs are just dragging. Mile marker 3. It feels as if my legs are pushing through wet concrete. Mile marker 4. Halfway there. I try desperately to get my mind to focus on other things. Work projects. A fried chicken sandwich. Beer. And then it clicks -- I’ve got a cooler of beer waiting in my truck at the bottom. Suddenly, mile marker 6, then 7, flies by and I make the final push for the summit.

2 Wheels > 4 Wheels

There are literally millions of ways to get from point a to point b. Running, skipping, cartwheeling, paddling, driving, flying, floating, etc. Through the years, endless joy has been discovered while exploring the world around you -- especially when you ditch the motorized transportation and use your own power to get somewhere.

S'more Than A Feeling

Nothing says summer like a campfire in the woods. The crackle of wood, the wafts of smoke and, of course, the sweet, sweet taste of s’mores hitting your lips. Generations of kids and adults alike have been participating in the time-honored tradition of s’mores around the campfire, but few have ventured beyond the standard graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow, a.k.a. The 1.0.

Canoe Be My Friend?

Remember back to the days at summer camp filled with s’mores and ghost stories around a campfire? For those of you who received a coveted canoeing merit badge as a kid, canoes seem like a bit of a forgotten mode of water transportation in our current world of stand-up paddle boards and flyboards. Canoes might not be the newest kids on the block, but it’s tough to beat a nice, classic canoe for a fun day out on the lake.

Pacific North Best

Here at GSI Outdoors, our affection for the Pacific Northwest is pretty apparent. It’s where GSI was born and still lives today. It’s where we find inspiration for new ideas and the perfect proving grounds for putting our products through the test. If they can survive here, they can survive anywhere. So this week, we bring you a poem about this amazing place we call home.

The Art of Making a Proper Weekend Bug-Out Bag

Have you ever had this feeling before — It’s getting late in the week, the mundane office tasks are piling up, and you start to think you might drown in the mounting stacks of paperwork. You’re so close to the weekend, but it feels so far away. You sort of remember what nature is, but the concept starts to feel foreign.

Chilaquiles, Aay?!

WHY LIVING IN A MOUNTAIN TOWN IS THE BEST

Here at GSI, we’re huge fans of mountains. They are our favorite playground and the stomping grounds for our product innovation. By this point, almost everyone has heard the famous expression, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” We think John Muir knew exactly what he was talking about when he uttered those timeless words.

Wine or Wine Not?

Oh, wine, how we love you so. You brighten any occasion and make life’s moments just a little bit sweeter. It was Robert Louis Stevenson who famously wrote, “Wine is bottled poetry” and we couldn’t agree more. With that in mind, we wanted to dedicate this week’s blog entry to all the fellow wine lovers out there.

A Cure for the Shoulder Season Blues

Spring Cleaning Checklist

It’s been a long, cold winter, but those days are now behind you -- it’s officially Spring! And that means it’s time to start planning for warm-weather adventures. If you’re like us, you never really stop planning the next adventure (or three). Here’s a quick checklist to make sure your gear is all ready to go so you’re not left out in the cold.

How to eat like a champ on a 3 day backcountry trip in the winter

Now that spring corn is providing safer snow conditions, the backcountry is the place to be! Whether you’re building snow caves, getting your yurt on, or booking forest service cabins, overnight backcountry ski trips are game on.

ADULTING HARD: IT'S SNOW FORT SEASON!

Dear Sunshine,
Thank you for coming back. It feels like you've been gone forever.
Thank you for burning goggle tans into everyone's faces so we look like pro skiers. Thank you for making tulips appear in the mud holes next to our houses. And thanks for melting out our parking spots so we don't have to park down the street anymore.

What your Backcountry Coffee Says About You

Coffee can be the most important building block of any fantastic day off the grid. It can literally make or break a trip. Think of it like the foundation of a house -- everything can come tumbling down if you don’t have a solid foundation. And, much like toppings on a pizza, everybody has their own preference when it comes to coffee. And with so many options available, we thought we’d take a moment to analyze all the different types of backcountry coffee and what it says about you, because nobody likes a foamy latte.

GSI Products Your Dog Will Love

They are always there for you when you’ve had a ruff day. They’re by your side on all your adventures. They never say they’re tired, and they never get mad at you. Sure, sometimes they might steal a bite from your plate when you’re not looking, but who can blame them. I mean… have you ever eaten dog food? You have? Well, that’s weird. But at least you understand what they’re putting up with every day. Anyway, it’s undeniable that dogs make life more interesting. So we got to thinking… What are our dog’s favorite GSI products?

What Kind of Backcountry Foodie Are You?

Cooking in the outdoors is a whole different game. Gone are the endless supply of clean dishes, pans, cooking surfaces, utensils and running water. But cooking outside doesn’t have to be a daunting feat. The first step is establishing which type of backcountry foodie you are -- we’ve identified six of the most common below.

5 Must-Haves For A Winter Cookout Session

There’s nothing like building a big ol’ backcountry booter with your friends and eating good food while learning new tricks and sharing some laughs. Read on for our five must-haves for a primo jump-building session.

Cabin Fever

It’s getting to be that time of year when winter seems to drag on forever. Don’t get us wrong - there is a lot to love about winter. Specifically, bottomless powder turns with a board strapped to your feet. But as the gray of winter stretches on, you (and half your town) may start getting an itch deep down for open skies and wide open spaces (cue that old Dixie Chicks song). Whether you make your home in a mountain town or a sprawling city, a trip to the desert always cures whatever ails ya.

How to Go on a Backcountry Date

Pack everything you need for an easy backcountry meal that you think your significant other will be into. Don't forget to bring water. Chop all your veggies ahead of time, gather your ingredients, and stash them in a gear box shoved into the bottom of your pack.

Campground Avocado Caprese Salad

Ski-what-ing?

Just what in the world is skijoring? We were asking ourselves the same question a few weeks ago when we saw an advertisement for the Skijoring World Invitational. According to Siri, skijoring is a winter sport originating in Norway where a person on skis is pulled by a horse, dog or a motor vehicle. This may sounds like a recipe for disaster but, if you add in some sunshine, a few friends and a tasty cocktail, this sounds like a nice little Saturday.

5 Outdoor Date Ideas for Valentine’s Day 2017

In the words of Pat Benatar- “Love is a battlefield”, but let’s make love not war. This year is about trading in the crowded restaurants and long stemmed roses for hiking boots and a map with no destination. We’re forming alliances this year with our significant other as we check out five outdoor date ideas for Valentine’s Day 2017.

#gsiresolution

So far, we're really excited about our choice of 2017 resolutions - spending more time outside is always a good choice. You can go back and check out our full #gsiresolution list, but here's how we've spent the past month.

New Products for 2017

We're always looking for ways to help people #getoutside and make their time while there even more enjoyable. We have quite a few new products coming out in 2017 that will do just that. The following four are a few of our favorite - here's why.